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There is so much damn talent in this country and so many really smart, incisive people that I just get incensed reading the bullshit that nitwits are getting paid six figures to write on the editorial pages of our most prestigious newspapers. Kathleen Parker is a prime example. This column is in the guise of telling hard truths to both parties, so the Republicans naturally come in for some criticism. Let’s watch her set this up with some truly breathtaking false equivalence. But first, let me ask you a question. What’s the difference between a millionaire and a billionaire? Did you answer “Not much”? Good, you’re normal.

Republicans aren’t mistaken when they say that President Obama is declaring class warfare. He’s been working that turf with a pretty big shovel. How many times have we heard that millionaires and billionaires (as though there were no difference) refuse to pay their fair share?

But Republicans are also playing the class card when they insist with equal passion that half of all Americans pay no taxes. Missing from this statement is the word “income,” which would make the assertion truer. But it’s more effective to imply that half the country — i.e., the shiftless and dependent — only want something for nothing.

What happens when you win an argument based on half-truths? In politics, it doesn’t matter. Winning is all that matters. In real life, the people lose.

Here’s your first hint that something is wrong. The Republicans are telling a lie, but Parker suggests how they could make that lie truer. The president is stating an opinion, and her only complaint is that millionaires are getting lumped in with billionaires. This is clearly two sides of a coin, right?

No shit Mr. Weeper of the House… did you expect President Obama to remain warm and fuzzy with you after you and your GOP cronies have done everything possible to block him from getting his agenda accomplished?

Frosty? No weeping Boehner there is no relationship, when people stab you in the back time and time again, when they tell you one thing to your face and get in public and say and do something else. This President have had it up to here with Boehner and his lying no good Republicans. And I don’t blame him.

What??? No crying? No orange crocodile tears? All this article does is confirm for me once again that our Prez is the only adult in the room. I don’t know what’s funnier the lame ass attempt to paint PBO as the bad guy engaging in class warfare, the fact that he’s essentially whining on TV about his itty bitty feelings being hurt; or the fact that he believes that he actually has a relationship with the Prez that could become frosty. Please. This whole article made me laugh out loud but particularly this statement:

“And I’ve told the president, and I’m the most straight-up transparent person in this town, that I would never mislead him, that my word is my bond.”

Really? you really think people aren’t going to see this for the total codswallop that it is? Newsflash, Boner, this isn’t high school, this isn’t “Mean Girls”. PBO’s been out and about the last two weeks doing his job AND yours; effortlessly I might add. He’s been a little busy. And, you are not transparent (neither figuratively or literally), you are ORANGE, you moron. The tanning bed’s done fried your brain along with your so-called laser focus on job creation. 🙂

What’s even more revealing is how Orange Boner and his cronies say that it’s President Obama and the Democrats fault that economic recovery is sluggish, yet Orange Boner and his cronies wasted endless time with funding the government, making the debt ceiling a political shenanigan, voting for the disastrous Paul Ryan Vouchercare budget, voting to defund Planned Parenthood and NPR, endless abortion and pro rape bills, wasted money on defending DOMA, and the recent vote for “In God We Trust” which wasn’t a threat.

Normally, ANY incumbent with a bad economy and high unemployment should be polling well BELOW the opposition, but not the case with Barack Obama: he’s polling significantly higher than the Republican opposition because their candidates are lackluster, and the Republicans have shown they are NOT concerned about the sluggish economy and high unemployment. Their feigned concern about the economy a year ago was all a ruse and ploy to get elected, and the American people are seeing it, thus why Barack’s numbers have begun to go up, whereas the Republican numbers are still in the tank.

And let’s not forget the naming of post offices, the minting of commemorative coins for Baseball Hall of Fame, and Congress’ so called “working schedule”. I get that their thought process is, with the media’s help, to continually repeat the lie 24-7to the “American People” that it’s PBO and the Democrats’ fault that they don’t have a job, a house, health care, an education, fill in the blank. The fact that they continue to repeat it even in the face of what is now an endless list of deliberate and intentional wasting of time (and money) continues to irritate me to no end. After viewing TOD each day, my next stop is usually at TheHill.com so I can see what legislation Congress is taking up that day. When the legislation doesn’t involve jobs, or something else that is actually going to help the economy, it’s a good way to start an email/tweet to the critters, saying today you voted on “x”, where are the jobs?

May I just say how much I loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove and adore Martin O’Malley, Governor of Maryland? Lucky b******s in Maryland. 😉 Citizens of Maryland hit the jackpot with Gov. O’Malley. I’m soooo jealous and envious of you people. No joke. Seriously, after President Obama wins re-election in 2012; 2016 has to be O’Malley/whoever. He was on State of the Union with Candy Crowley this morning and though he’s soft spoken, I have never witnessed such a STRONG, no holds barred defense of PBO and his accomplishments. This was his second appearance that I watched and he kicked it out of the ballpark again. He paised PBO for stabilizing and growing the economy. He talked about how the GDP was at -9% before PBO came into office and now its at 4% and growing. He touted the American Jobs Act as the greatest thing since sliced bread, broke it down into issue by issue and used it to shame and I mean shame the republicans. He talked about how healthcare reform had helped the people of Maryland, how the stimulus helped. He flat out said that the republicans are intentionally doing everything in their power to tank the economy so that they can defeat PBO. That the republicans profess to “care” for the middleclass yet all they propose is de-regulation, defunding of the EPA, and taxt cut after tax cut for the wealthy. He called Mitch McConnell out for not looking out for Americans since his only concern is making PBO a one term President. Candy tried to stick up and schill for the GOP but Gov O’Malley was having none of it. He called the GOP out for signing a pledge with Grover Norquist to basically destroy the economy.

At the end of the interview Candy tried to corner him with persistent questions of “Are you running in 2016?” And everytime she asked, all he said was “Candy, Candy, Candy, what I’m interested in and what I will work hard for is making sure President Obama wins in 2012. That’s what I’m working hard for everyday from now until November 6, 2012.”

In closing, people of Maryland, I sincerely hope you treat him RIGHT and re-elect him because he is fantastic! I so envy you people. 👿 Everytime he appears on Morning Joe or any of the sunday talk shows he kills it . Every freaking time! I’ve got my eye on him for 2016. Show him some love and thanks please. His twitter handle is @GovernorOMalley.

LHM when that man walked into the room last week at that Democratic rally I attended I think I had a heart palpitation. Fine, Fine, Fine….and smart and a dedicated Dem as well. The DGA knew what they were doing when they named him their chairman.

UT he just won re-election last year so I get to have him form 3 more years and then the WH after PBO moves out in 2016 🙂

Great report, as usual UT. This part of your great precis especially needs to be repeated over and over again on TV, twitter, by email ,video however:

“He talked about how the GDP was at -9% before PBO came into office and now its at 4% and growing. He touted the American Jobs Act as the greatest thing since sliced bread, broke it down into issue by issue and used it to shame and I mean shame the republicans. He talked about how healthcare reform had helped the people of Maryland, how the stimulus helped. He flat out said that the republicans are intentionally doing everything in their power to tank the economy so that they can defeat PBO. That the republicans profess to “care” for the middleclass yet all they propose is de-regulation, defunding of the EPA, and taxt cut after tax cut for the wealthy. He called Mitch McConnell out for not looking out for Americans since his only concern is making PBO a one term President.”

I’m definitely hoping he’s on the ticket in 2016 – after hearing him call out the anti-Obama idiots last month, I did a little research on him. He looks like he’s got his heart in the right place, his head screwed on straight, and a determination to make things happen. His wife is impressive, too. Reminded me a lot of President Obama at his core. I’m also hoping that a good female candidate comes onto the scene for 2016, and she and O’Malley can form a strong ticket. This country needs Democrats to stay in power for at least the next generation or two.

You call it luck but it was lots of hard work to make sure the republican would lose. I worked in city hall when he was our mayor and I prayed tha he would run for gov. This is his second term and he is really a nice guy and works for all.

Well Chris Matthews told me on MTP this morn that no one, and I mean no one, was out defending the Pres because he hadn’t “bonded” with fellow Dems. (he’s such an *ss) And he said that the Clintonites, Ed Rendell, in particular, were ready to go should Hills announce another run. Smh…damn fools…all of them are so disloyal and their hate of our president reeks from their filthy mouths. Maybe someone should introduce Gov O’Malley to Chris and tell him that this is what a real Dem looks and sounds like. Chris says no one fears PBO but they better fear karma-she’s a b*itch, as they say. I have a feeling that a lot of people are going to get to know her pretty well before all is said and done…

My Governor (O’Malley) was actually a Hillary supporter in the primary but Martin is a loyal Democrat. He could teach the establishment Democrats a thing or two about how to support a sitting President. The one thing that I agree with Chris on is that this President does not have the unconditional support that I saw of previous Democrats. Clinton NEVER had people in our Party questioning his policies or agenda. He had their full support. This President does not. Even when we do get a Dem to come out and support something of this President they end up with a caveat to their support. Maxine Waters was out there screaming at the Republicans when they went on their witch hunt over Bills sexcapade. Never heard her talk about what Bill wasn’t doing for the AA community. During the 08 Primary everyday there was a different Dem on every cable show defending Hillary. She had strong good ole boys and girls out there making the case for her and other than Kerry and Clare McCaskill we have nil….

Where are the loyal Democratic strategist who won’t spend half of theirair time nodding in agreement that the President should have done this or that differently? They don’t exist (other than O’Malley). I don’t know when the last time I’ve heard any of you who watch cable say that Kerry was out there defending the President and McCaskill has become the Morning Joke darling.

The lack of support is sad and stunning…thank God for people like your gov! I also believe as some have said on this board that there is a silent army out there and the “establishment” is going to get quite a surprise come election time. These folks won’t fare well in the history books…One of my fave books about Roosevelt is called “FDR’s Enemies” there were quite a few-Dems, Repubs, Progressives, Labor and Crazies lol but somehow he managed to out maneuver all of them and win despite some of them and I think PBO will too

Why would Pres. Obama bond with people who are ready to jump ship if Hillary should change her mind? What kind of convoluted thinking is that? And how exactly would Pres. Obama make them fear him? Send them a dead fish wrapped in newspaper?

I know…it doesn’t make sense. These people can’t be trusted and I wouldn’t want to hang out with them either. Plus, PBO tried having cocktails and stuff with members of Congress including Repubs but it didn’t do any good.

It was really distressing watching Chris and the others on MTP pretty much mocking PBO for not having insider support. They seemed to get a perverse glee from saying it and how Hillary would have instant support if she wanted to run…

They’d turn on Hillary just like they’ve turned on President Obama, and they will probably turn on Elizabeth Warren, too. Anyone who actually works to get stuff done, and is prepared to compromise, is the enemy to these people who have never worked to accomplish a difficult task. They are more interested in being seen and heard than getting stuff done. I wonder how many of them actually vote.

I recall saying this some time ago, Chris Matthews is going through some mental issues, or he is just trying to sell that book of his. Maybe both. And maybe the truth is those people haven’t bonded with President Obama because they never really wanted him to win in the first place. They are mad with him for defeating Hillary. Honestly what the hell have bonding got to do with anything? I have never seen any President have to go through such B.S. even from his own party. These same people had no problem bonding and sticking with Bill Clinton even after the impeachment trial and Lewinsky.

Well at least they don’t hide it anymore. Folks, the Clintonites are trying to force President Obama to get out,, or to put Hillary on the ticket.

WOW, just WOW.

Remember what Jonathan Alter said a few weeks ago that President Obama could be forced to swallow his pride and put Hillary on the ticket for 2012 ?

There’s NO question in my mind now that the Clintonites are making their move, with Bill leading the charge ( with the book that is coming). And as things are unfolding, I’m getting the idea that Hillary is with them, at least a little. Sorry but that’s how I feel. If she wasn’t she would have disciplined her allies in the party a long time ago.

They are saying that President Obama didn’t “bond” with them. Can you blame the man for not trusting the Clintonites too much ?? And anyway, I think he made a great gesture in putting Hillary in the very powerful position of SOS, bringing her in the inner circle… But no… that wasn’t enough. Allies of Clinton would have liked to be very influential in every decision of the White House. They never accepted the defeat handed to them by this “outsider” who hadn’t “paid his dues” to the establishement. They wanted the same power as they would have had if Hillary had won. Face it guys, that’s not how things work.

I hope Bill Clinton and his alcolytes get the smack down they deserve. The democratic base ( the real one, not the PL) will have to speak loud and clear that their loyalty is with President Obama, not with a bunch of sore losers.

PBO would never put those vipers on the ticket. They would take over everything and create a disaster. There is a reason Hillary didn’t win in the primaries. Perhaps she and her creep of a husband should remember that.

Remember, Lovepolitics2008, these people can spew this crazy talk all day long, BUT the reality is that NO ONE forces POB to do anything. The foolish and ugly talk is just that. Fools speaking and talking about nothing. HZ

My dream is that PBO dumps all the Clinton hold-overs that are in his administration in his second term — they are not loyal (where to begin with all their gabbing to Ron Suskind???) and they hardly bring cutting edge policies and ideas to the table . .

Thanks UT for this glowing report on Gov. O’Malley. I am going to start paying him serious attention. From what you wrote, he is an example of what all Democratic elected officials, especially those in Congress, should be saying every day.

O/T: THANK YOU……you folks who donated to my hubby’s Ultimate Hike. It is SO appreciated and will be used for research for childhood cancer. CureSearch uses “ultimate”, not for the long hike, but for the “ultimate” goal of finding a cure…….or even, in the meantime, finding drugs that be used for children. Most of the chemo drugs used on children are simply watered-down adult chemo drugs. In fact, what (officially) killed Walker was one of the drugs–it damaged his heart beyond repair. Thirty-six children are diagnosed every day in this country and 7 die every day from pediatric cancer. This HAS to stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!! What a family we have here. Thanks, Chips, for providing it for us. You are THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tnmtngirl, thanks for sharing with your family here. This is why we can’t afford to not support POB in his efforts to keep funding requests to Congress for on-going research in the medical field. Have you thought about starting a petition on the Whitehouse.gov page? Thank about it.HZ

I got the “private video” notice too.
OT and personal, but my Ct. daughter, still without power 8 days later, just let me know that the bucket trucks and crews have just arrived in their neighborhood. Was it the now much despised Ct. Light and Power trucks? Nope. It was a crew from Ga. The whole neighborhood gathered around to cheer their arrival and watched and cheered as they finally lifted a big tree branch entangled in the power lines. The guys asked, “Do y’all want some power?” And they yelled, “Yes!” And after noting that CL&P was “good for nothin'”, they told the gathered crowd, “We’re gonna be heatin’ ya up and turnin’ ya on.” 🙂 Hooray for that!!! They were lovin’ these Ga. guys, who even took a minute to pat their dog before they went about the business of heatin ’em up and turnin’ ’em on.

Hi Dotster3, good the hear the great news. Can you get the full name of the company. I would like to send a thank you note to them. If it is not trouble to you and your family at this time, maybe she could get the name from the truck or one of the persons working on their lines.

The more we let them know that we do appreciate them, I feel it will also encourage them to know that we are watching and are so grateful to them for stepping up and helping. We need to all stand together. We have the tools in techonology now to do so.HZ

ATHENS/PARIS (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou sealed a deal on Sunday with the opposition on forming a coalition to approve a euro zone bailout before early elections, breaking an impasse after the EU demanded a rapid end to the political bickering.

Thanks desertflower. Karma is a total bitch. These people are going to reap what they have are still are sowing. You just can’t continue to go around in life and cause all of this hate and unfairness to people. It will catch up to you soon or later. Hopefully, it will be soon.HZ

The other day I mentioned that an old classmate came at me with some right wing BS. Desertflower and others gave me some info to send him–one thing was the White House comparison of the President’s Jobs Bill and the Republican Jobs Bill. Sent them off with appropriate comments and got some ” you need to move to a communist country” stuff back–plus “the country wlll be destroyed if we don’t limit regulation”. “You want the govt. to control everything”– well, that’s enough of that–makes my butt tired.

Concur theo67. Auni, keep your spirits up and move on to another person. Sometimes, another person is ready with the heart to listen clearly and intelligently and will benefit more. So be not discourage, but keep trying to send the material to others who might be on your heart to contact.

And this: http://politicalcorrection.org/factcheck/201111040009 Let them chew on that for awhile:) The Political Correction link sites Wall St Journal MANY TIMES! Hardly a Liberal bastion! let us know! Sometimes the lies, just become truth to them…you can only lead them to water….can’t make them THINK:)

Great comment, isonprize. Keep the positive rolling because these people have not realized that things will get worse for them and others , if they do not listen to the facts of truth that this Administration has done and is doing for them.

this is from David Horsey’s blog:
Too much regulation on business? It was the elimination of regulations on banks and the financial industry late in the Clinton administration and early in the Bush era that allowed bankers and Wall Street derivatives traders to build the house of cards that came crashing down on us all in 2008. Businesses are now failing to create jobs, not because of regulations, but because the economy is still teetering on the edge of calamity.

A year from today we will be an hour or two from when polls begin to close.

Today, at BarackObama.com the video #What If?” appeared. The message is cogent; the warning, clear.

In addition to re-electing you, we need to elect majorities in the House and Senate comprised of individuals willing to work with you to help all Americans recover from the Reagan-Bushx2-Clinton era during which, as you have eloquently noted, the majority of Americans were excluded from any of the prosperity that their productivity generated.

A grave and real threat – one that could facilitate the worst outcome possible on 6 Nov 2012 – is being pursued relentlessly by Republicans throughout America.

They are committed to disenfranchising as many Americans as possible. Much of their 21st Century Jim Grow scheme involves finding as many ways as possible to deny people access to a ballot by imposing photo ID restrictions and barriers to obtaining a valid photo ID.

Recognizing that one unassailably valid photo is a US Passport. I have requested, once before, that you issue an Executive Order instructing the Department of State to Waive the Fee for any US Citizen whom will be eligible to vote on 6 Nov 2012. Motivated by the “What If?” video, I’m making that request again.

Ms DeParle sent an email requesting ideas as to how the President could create jobs without any help from Congress. I sent her two very specific suggestions. The webform link in her email would not be suitable for my submitting the above recommendation so I sent it directly to the President. Anyone who wants to resend the recommendation, please do so. No need to attribute it to me.

Robert Reich writes “Wall St is Back to Its Old Tricks” a scenario in which you travel to Wall St and inform the financial community that, given their continued greed and endless efforts to avoid regulation, as evidenced by their lobbying to ‘water down the Volcker rule’ and more, that you are going to take action.

President Clinton, collaborating with three GOP Senators, destroyed a cornerstone of FDR’s legacy and unleashed Wall St greed on Americans when he signed Gramm-Leach-Bliley into law.

It is time to call for the repeal of that law and even stronger legislation than Glass-Steagall and that any bank that remotely fits the parameters of ‘too big to fail’ be systematically deconstructed into entities that either perform in the market or go out of business, but their demise doesn’t threaten the stability of the US or global economy and doesn’t undermine the value of what little the middle class is able to save.

Someone needs to convert the raw energy and legitimate complaints of the “Occupy Wall St” movement into a major force for change in the US Senate and House, as well as ensuring you are re-elected President.

You’re the person to do that and now is the time to offer very specific regulatory goals you intend to impose on Wall St, and the greedy 1%ers, when you are re-elected and you are going to be calling on every candidate you endorse to support your mandate for change as soon as Congress convenes in Jan 2013.

Thank you,
Bob

p.s. Please end the Keystone XL project. We have so many ways to continue improving our energy future and you do not need the political baggage.

Hi Bob, I love your letters. They are excellent. I was just reading this one and thinking that it might be a great idea to also send this to DNC Chairperson, DWS. Have you thought about that. Especially about the winning of the House back and some workable and capable, and willing Senators to help Leader Reid and POB. Just a thought.HZ

The twitterverse is buzzing from fresh idiocy from Mike Huckabee. He compared the Cain harassment allegations to ordering chicken from Popeye’s, saying that the accusers are anonymous (actually, no, they’re not – they are simply under a non-disclosure agreement), and that the abuse could have been a lot worse. Says that they basically accused Herman Cain of calling them “honey” or “sweetie”, and maybe he should have sued when the Popeye’s servers asked him if he wanted breast or thigh pieces of chicken.

If Huckabee has a problem with baseless attacks based on charges from years ago then he must have been appalled by the swift boating of John Kerry in 2004? Not so much, Huckabee was the chairman of the Bush/Cheney 2004 Arkansas operation.

Huckabee’s comparison of Herman Cain’s pattern of sexual harassment was an attempt by Fox News to delegitimize his victims and make the story go away. Cain supporters use the polls as evidence that this story isn’t harming their candidate, but a new Reuters/Ipsos poll has found that Cain’s favorability rating among Republicans has dropped nine points since the story broke, and 53% of those polled think that the allegations are true.

Mike Huckabee can make all the jokes he wants to about sexual harassment, but Herman Cain is starting to look like damaged goods. Huckabee didn’t just blame the victims. He humiliated them. Keep it classy, Mike Huckabee. It is mind blowing to think that there are people out there who actually wanted this man to be president.

And the people in that video actually were applauding, laughing and cheering as Huckabee blamed and humiliated the victims. The entire Republican party is clearly filled with morons, idiots, and people of poor character and judgement.How did these people run this country for so long?

I am watching a segment right now on 60 Minutes about Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. This is just astonishing. He talks about his activities so matter of factly. It’s just disgusting. A culture of corruption that is alive and well today.

I could not agree more. The problem is that too many congress members and their staffs use their jobs as a stepping stone to be a lobbyist. And in fact they are constantly being sought after to fill lobbyists positions. There is a glaring conflict of interest. The lobbyist profession is so lucrative that it is like a magnet. This 60 Minutes segment should be required viewing for every American.

By the way, you will need a box of tissues for the segment about the wounded soldiers returning to Iraq to heal. It is very moving and will rip your heart out. It’s yet another segment that should be required viewing for all Americans.

LH – I’m on the west coast and I just finished watching the Jack Abramoff segment on 60 Minutes too. My mouth fell open at how easy it is for corruption to live and grow in DC. No wonder President Obama prefers being out on the road with America as oppose to being within the DC area.

Corruption in DC is like fungus spores that seep into your system and you LOSE YOUR MIND!

I hear ya ggail. The culture of corruption is worse than ever. We have to get the money out of politics somehow. The current political landscape is just horrifying. There are so many obstacles to conquer.

1) We have the lobbyists who are like vultures trying to influence the politicians.

2) Citizens United case making corporations people. No accountability for political donations.

3) We have the ALEC organization which seems like a shadow government.

4) We have the Koch Brothers with their tentacles everywhere trying to get rid of unions and minimum wage laws.

5) We have a depraved, obstructionist GOP only interested in the wealthy. no regulations/no taxes/hostage taking as governing strategy.

6) A feckless media that has abdicated the responsibility to educate and inform the public with the facts.

7) The constant manufactured controversies and negativity of the Fox network.

8) Right wing radio echo chamber.

9) The Tea Party Haters who are very confused about the role of government.

10) Concerted efforts by the Republican Party to disenfranchise voters.

11) Wall Street and the Banks sitting on their cash and whining when they are called out for their reckless behavior.

12) GOP making no taxes pledges to some guy outside of the government named Grover Norquist.

You are so correct in your comments theo67. Answer, the people were not really listening. Now the young people have a leader who has inspired them, make the case reasonable, careful, truthful, and intelligent. The intelligent, compassionate, loving, faithful and focus young people are listening and most of all Doing something about this reckless, greedy, old men society. ENOUGH, they are saying.

How insulting to all young and old women for these men to poke fun at such an awful and ugly situation. Shameless people.HZ

Speaking of Florida, Senator Bill Nelson is taking it to Rick Scott, the governor, saying a vote for ANY Republican in Florida next year is a vote to rubberstamp the agenda of Rick Scott… and apparently it’s working, seeing as practically NO ONE in the state likes Rick Scott. Even the Republicans there hate his ass, and that is telling… not all Republican voters are buying into this “blame the unemployed, more tax breaks for the rich, class warfare” nonsense that the Republicans are selling. The Republicans are in for a rude awakening next year methinks.

Good to hear nintendowii10. Bill Nelson of Fl. gave a very beautiful introduction of our beloved Joe when VPOTUS gave that great speech last month in Fl. Remembem Bill spoke highly of Joe and told the people why he supported Joe and POB.

You have said a mouthful, Martz. And if they would have their way, they would do it again. That is why we must get out the word and let the people know that they have been used and will be again, if they keep buying this crap from the fools. We will defeat this evil crowd .HZ

The video is a nice introduction to him. Thanks! It would be nice to see him speak at the convention next year in the hopes of gaining some “national presence”. While I know that the focus and energy is on PBO’s reelection for the short term, my long term concern (really fear) is that come 2016, we’ll still see a crazy Repug a la Perry, Cain, etc. in the White House that will unravel all the good work that came before then. Unless some part of the Dem party are also focusing now on grooming the next presidential contender after PBO’s second term. I hope so.

OOO, another family values guy! Did you see how touched he was at his daughters’ speeches? I also like the way he seems relaxed in his people interactions. Okay Gov. O’Malley, I’ll keep you in the back of my mind for 2016, and thank you for your wisdom and integrity in standing behind our current leader.

Hi Donna. I fell in love with your wonderful Governor O’Malley when I first herad him speak about our President. Also, he has that calm intellectual spirit about him. Plus, not bad on the eyes. We will need someone to be easy on the eyes after our beautiful POTUS completes his second term.

Enjoy your governor and keep us posted so we can keep the fire under the army’s feet for our man in 2016. Love him.HZ

Guys there’s this story brewing about the fight over the construction of Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline as it was reported that an estimated ten thousand demonstrated in front of the white house today:

I also read that the Sec. of State and State Dept has a big call in this as well. Remember also, this is not the first time that there have been protests against a President at the WH, But it is how he/she will listen and make good decisions in the matters. They have the right to protest, and the President has the responsibility to make decisions that are applied to the Executive Branch as well.

Then that Congress, who knows where there heads are. However, I will trust the President to make the right decision. That is why we pray and ask for wisdom for him. Lord knows he has enough on his plate that he has been cleaning up since the moment he sat down at that desk in the Oval Office.

Keep him in your prayers, good thoughts, and meditations daily. Thank you all.HZ

As you may have noticed – there is a pattern with this media (both left and right). Something only becomes an issue of concern when it can be used to tarnish the President. Some of the same people out there protesting would not give a rat’s arse about this if they couldn’t use it as a wedge issue where this President is concerned. I’ve seen this movie before, and I’m not impressed.

The oil sands has been big news since the summer. The first time I read about it was over on the blog at barackobama.com. If he approves of this, it will lead to a backlash amongst the environmentalist in his base.

Regardless of what he does somebody will be pissed. The unions are saying thousands of jobs will be created. Others are saying will decrease our dependency on foreign oil. It’s another damn if he does and damn if he doesn’t situation.

President Obama said that he would personally approve or disapprove the pipeline after doing a review of the health risks versus the jobs benefits. Neither Harper nor the PL protesters are right about any presumption.

I trust that our President will ultimately make the right decision as he normally does. This is not about “taking a Koch check” as it is being framed by the PL at Old Orange and elsewhere.

I know he will..Now Van Jones is going after PBO instead of State Dept, in charge of making the decision.

He’s written a whole blog about it:

“We have a duty to support the president when he is right (for instance, fighting for the jobs bill). And we have an equal duty to oppose him when he is wrong. And if he is even considering approving this monstrous, planet-killing proposal, President Obama is flat-out, absolutely, and 100 percent wrong.”

He’s a flat out lier He never made any efforts to promote or helping PBO passing the AJA bill, yet he was quick to promote Jane Hamshire BS. I’ve called him out many times….he kept ignoring me. I am about so send him Tally’s Facts link….I am sick of his BS.

It appears to me that Van Jones is probably pissed because he lost his White House Job and this is his way of getting back at the President. He also seems to be a publicity seeker. In any case, while he has a right to protest, the President has a responsibility to act in the best interests of all Americans and not just the interests of the holier than thou environmentalists. I am tired of people who focus on just one issue to tell the President what to do. I have absolute trust that President Obama will not unwisely do anything that would harm the health of Americans.

Kasai, go for it. I think that your heart is leading you to do the right thing. If you tell me how, I would send it as well. Tally will assist us as well.

Van Jones has been very disappointing. I have told him so in my Tweets to him. Maybe we need to start tweeting him again. I notice that he get hot under the collar when we tweet him. Lets give him so heat. Tell the truth, Van, or shut up bashing the President.HZ

“If you are not going to work with him to solve problems, then sthu, and stop working against him. We have too much work to get done.HZ”

Thanks df. I would love to see Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats promote this company. Maybe Senator Franken and Klobachar are on it. This totally fits in with their MAKE IT IN AMERICA program. It’s such an uplifting story. I bet the orders for those beautiful blankets are going start flowing in. It is such a good feeling to see this happening.

Ladyhawke and our wonderful Desertflower, I was just writing a reply to your comments about this wonderful news. Then I lost it. Sorry. However, I was writing some of the same thoughts that Ladyhawke has written.

Desertflower, I was also thinking that we could contact Senators Franken and Amy klobuchar to present this to POB and maybe they could have this company and several others at a Whitehouse Ceremony,;Made In America’ stressing the fact that this is what POTUS was talking about with having a comeback with ‘made in America companies. What do you all think. I am going to write the Senators anyway.

I went to the online site and saw some beautiful throws. Thanks for the link, Desertflower. You are so special in our family. Love you back so very much.HZ

HZ…you are such a treasure! I think that it’s a wonderful idea to send this info to the senators from MN and have them showcase this wonderful story of renewal and revitalization:) Perfect idea! That’s what the President was talking about….Made in America companies on the comeback….great stuff. Please let me know that you sent them the info, and let us ALL know what they said of they respond…..thanks for doing that:)

Wow. Just think, if the newstainers would do just one positive story like this each broadcast, our economy and the MOOD of the people would be on the rise! Checked their site, loved the heritage section — http://faribaultmill.com/our-heritage.php

They are taking pre-orders to be delivered in about 60 days, think I’m going to cash in one of my change jugs…

Desertflower, I e mailed Senators Franken, Klobuchar, and our beloved President about your post. Lets see what happens. Will be calling about the throws. I have allergies to wool,, but I have a special person who would love some of the beautiful items. Great story. Thanks for sharing.

Lets let the senators know that we find important news and share it. Our POTUS might send someone to our blog as well. I have dropped our blogs name several times when writing to them. Ladies behave. Love you all so much.HZ

YOU GOTTA READ THIS ARTICLE. AND THIS GUY THINKS HE CAN BE PRESIDENT? WITH HIS PERSONALITY?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NOVEMBER 6, 2011, 5:17 PM
In Flight, Romney Is Aloof With Fellow Passengers

By EMMARIE HUETTEMAN
Mitt Romney was polite as he took his seat in coach next to Carolyn McClanahan of Jacksonville, Fla., on a recent Delta flight to Boston. He thanked her when she said she appreciated his efforts to reform health care as the governor of Massachusetts and even posed for a photo with her.

As a physician who heads a financial planning company and prides herself on having read every page of President Obama’s health care reform bill, Ms. McClanahan, 47, recognized that it’s not every day you’re seated next to a presidential candidate on a two-hour flight. According to Ms. McClanahan, about an hour into the flight — which Mr. Romney mostly spent reading USA Today and using an iPad while wearing headphones — she told him her idea for improving the American health care system: slashing overhead costs by switching to an electronic billing system.

“He looked at me blankly and said, ‘I understand,’ then put his iPad headphones in and kept reading,” she said.

While Ms. McClanahan said Mr. Romney was likely exhausted, she was disappointed he showed so little interest. Even another passenger’s request for a restaurant recommendation in Boston elicited little from Mr. Romney, she said. “I can’t give you any,” he said, according to Ms. McClanahan. “You’ll have to ask someone else.”

“I feel he’s out of touch or doesn’t want to be in touch or that he’s afraid to be in touch,” she said. “He’s just like people describe him: just very wooden.”

Vying for an office previously held by President George W. Bush, the guy you wanted to have a beer with, and President Bill Clinton, the guy who felt your pain, Mr. Romney has fought the characterization that he is stiff. He garnered 22 percent of Republican support in The Des Moines Register’s recent Iowa Poll, in a statistical tie with Herman Cain, who has built his campaign on being a businessman, accessible by nature of his distance from Washington.

But as the campaign continues, Mr. Romney’s interactions with voters will only grow less spontaneous. Should he survive long enough in the race, flying coach will be a thing of the past, replaced with Secret Service detail and private campaign planes.

In some ways, Ms. McClanahan’s experience with Mr. Romney offers just a glimpse of a widening gulf between Americans and politicians, evident in Congress’s plunging approval numbers. A recent New York Times/CBS News poll found that 84 percent disapprove of Congress.

Ms. McClanahan said that if Mr. Romney wants to improve his image with voters, he’s going to have to do more than just fly coach.

“I think that one of the problems right now is that politicians aren’t in touch,” she said. “They’re trying to act like they’re in touch. You need to be a little more sincere about it.”

Sorry gobrooklyn, I was away from the site for a bit and just found your NYT link in pending – so I freed it! (And deleted my link to the same article). It often happens that comments that include links automatically end up in pending because the WordPress spam detector suspects they’re, well, spam. But they should go straight through because I have that spam filter thingie set to only block comments with more than five links (classic spam includes lots of links). Grr!

One would think! she needs to partake of that and get her mental issues squared away….she may be past the point of no return at this point…..quotes like that tell me that the hinges are totally broken!

Chris Cillizza (Washington Post): There’s no question that President Obama faces one of the most challenging political environments in modern memory as he prepares to try to win a second term next November.

But with one year to go before the 2012 election, the battleground map suggests that the president still retains several plausible pathways to the 270 electoral votes he needs.

…. To understand how Obama can maintain that edge …. you need to start with the fact that he won 365 electoral votes in 2008, the largest haul since President Bill Clinton’s 1996 reelection.

Obama won three states — Indiana, North Carolina and Virginia — that no Democrat had carried at the presidential level in at least two decades, and he scored victories in six other states (Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico and Ohio) that George W. Bush had won in 2004…

…. with the exception of Indiana and its 11 electoral votes, Obama is very much in the game in those states. In several, even Republicans acknowledge that he is favored.

In New Mexico (five electoral votes) and Iowa (six electoral votes), Obama has an edge. New Mexico’s substantial Hispanic population makes it a tough pickup for Republicans. Iowa is more competitive but Obama has long had a connection to the state that his advisers think is lasting and strong.

Assuming Obama can win those two states again — and hold the 19 other states he won that also went to the Democrat, Sen. John F. Kerry, in 2004 — he would be just 12 electoral votes shy of 270.

That means Obama could would need to win only one of the following states to be reelected: Florida, North Carolina, Ohio or Virginia….

…. Democrats insist that they will be competitive in 2012 in Arizona and Georgia …. if true, that would give Obama more of a cushion.

…. the ground on which the 2012 election will be fought still favors him ….

The stalled U.S. economy, his biggest political burden, is doing just fine by today’s European standards. His actions in 2009 to stimulate the economy, administer bank bailouts and regulate financial institutions, attacked by Republican opponents, were the subjects of tutorials for European leaders who increasingly must follow his lead.

Gloria Cain has voted in numerous Democratic primaries and runoffs according to records unearthed by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

But there’s one area where husband and wife don’t always appear to see eye to eye: politics. While her husband votes Republican, Gloria Cain has voted in Democratic primaries and runoffs numerous times since 2000 — including the 2008 presidential primary that Barack Obama won with 66 percent of the vote, according to local voting records.

In 2004, Gloria Cain voted in the March Democratic primary for president, and then the Republican primary in July when her husband was on the Georgia ballot for U.S. Senate.

Hello….is anybody here? Come on guys, don’t go to sleep now. I have been lurking here for many months and I have not posted a comment because you guys keep me so busy reading and watching all these wonderful videos. This is an amazing blog and I am so glad that it found me. I visited Mrs. O site for a long while until this summer during the fiasco in Washington with the debt ceiling. When the President gave us orders, I informed the fashion-minded that if they did not donate, volunteer…..do something Mrs. O site would be, in essence, no longer there for the next four years. Well, I think I casued a revolution because some were offended by my implications of being political and there was a blog to go on if I needed to chat about politics. I did not want to chat. I just wanted them to get off their a***s and do something besided comment pro or con what our FLOTUS was wearing.

It just so happened during that time FLOTUS was not out in public as much before they went on their vacation. You feel the disdain and boredom. Exactly what I was trying to forewarn them of what would happen if they sat around and did nothing. Well, this is where the TOD family found me. I do not remember how it came about, but am I forever grateful. I am a OFA volunteer and I refer everyone to this blog. You all are really smart, intelligent and kind people. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication for our President. At the end of the day, I am encouraged to
“KEEP ON PUSHING” for 2012 to re-elect this gift that we have been blessed to lead us.

LDS….welcome! I’m sure that I can speak for the group in this one instance and say that you should comment more often, and we’re so glad that you’re here.
What matters is that YOU got to work…much appreciated.

Hi LDS and welcome! I found TOD through Mrs. O when a commenter there suggested I come here to see more pictures of Mrs. O’s attire from the South America trip. I usually try to stay away from the comments over there because I don’t like the nitpicking and head to toe deconstruction of the First Lady. I’ve been tempted on more than one occasion to say to the fashion police over there “I sure would like to see how perfectly fine all of you look everytime you walk out the door.” Since I found TOD I don’t visit there very often any more. I am far more interested in and concerned about the politics of our country right now and considered that spot an occasional guilty pleasure. I agree with your admonishment but am not surprised it was not welcomed.

I am an OFA Fall Fellow and I agree that volunteering on the ground is far more important than just about anything we can do on-line. Again, welcome.

Romney’s lack of traction carries well beyond the head-to-head matchups with other competitors. It also is reflected on discrete issues and candidate attributes. Considerable numbers of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents consider the health plan that Romney signed into law in Massachusetts and his Mormon religion as strikes against him.

Morning! It’s raining here. Rainy days and Monday’s:) We need it, so it’s all good. Weird that I see gobrooklyn’s post BELOW these newer posts…poor thing was trying so hard last night to put something up here and she never say it post…this morning, comments I made were thrown back, telling me that I already MADE that comment:) Oh…isn’t technology great.

Scarborough giving crazy analysis of wall street saying they have prospered more now than under bush. And that he is getting more donations from wall street.
Ok, 2 things. 1 wall street ain’t hiring, but this president DOD wall street reform for tge banks and hcr regulations which they hate.
2- an example of wall street is a Macy’s store-

Their are plenty of employees that work at Macy’s that are democrats- and yes they donate to the president…
The president dies not except any donations from CEOs or executives. And I watch the business channels, wall street hierarchy hates the president.
So, WTF is morning Joe talking about? Is he trying to shame the president from not take g any more donations from wall street employees eho are democrats?
Craziness!